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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Puerto Rico 4
UNK Athletics
62
Winner Neb.-Kearney UNKWBB 11-1
36
U. of Sacred Heart (PR) SAGRADOC
Winner
Neb.-Kearney UNKWBB
11-1
62
Final
36
U. of Sacred Heart (PR) SAGRADOC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Neb.-Kearney UNKWBB 20 10 16 16 62
U. of Sacred Heart (PR) SAGRADOC 11 9 13 3 36

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Lopers Take Game One in San Juan, 62-36

Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball got a double double from sophomore reserve forward Elisa Backes and started the second half with a bang to pull away from Sacred (P.R.) Heart, 62-36, Friday night in San Juan.

The contest is part of the large "Puerto Rico Clasico" event which is comprised of NCAA Division II and III and NAIA members playing games in arenas throughout the city.

Outside of a Facebook game film, UNK (11-1) didn't know much about Universidad del Sagrado Corazon (English translation of University of Sacred Heart) but USC proved to be a pesky foe. UNK led for nearly 40 minutes and by as many as 27 points but was up only 30-20 at the break and 34-29 midway through the third quarter.

Coming in as Division II's top three point shooting team (11.4 per game), the Lopers sunk its first trey nine seconds into the action but finished up 3 of 29 (10.3%) from behind the arc. That cold shooting reared its head mainly in the second quarter when UNK tallied just 10 points on 2 of 17 (0 for 11 threes) shooting.

"We didn't play particularly well. It's obviously an adjustment to play in an environment like this … the physicality of the game is a lot different. It took a little bit for us to adjust to that style," UNK head coach Carrie Eighmey said. "Once we got into the third quarter I thought we settled in well." Puerto Rico 1

With an emphasis on getting the ball more inside in the second half, UNK made seven of its first 11 field goal to open up a 45-31 cushion. This stretch include a three-point play by guard Haley Simental (Pueblo West, Colo.) and six points from sophomore wing Maegan Holt (Council Bluffs, Ia.).

"Once we were able to get the ball inside and establish a bit of a post presence we were able to stretch it. Defensively we were able to create some turnovers in the second half which allowed us to play more in transition and get into a flow offensively," Eighmey said.  

On the other end of the court UNK began to frustrate USC, holding the home team to 16 second half points on 6 of 19 shooting. Sacred Heart also began to fade facing some full court pressure with 17 of its 30 turnovers coming in the second half. The 30 miscues led to 18 Loper points.

Backes (Salina, Kan.) played 21 minutes off the bench and amassed 11 rebounds (three offensive), 10 points, four assists, steals and a block. Making 4 of 8 shots and two free throws, this marks her second career double double.

"Elisa came in and gave us a really good boost and did a lot of great things. She was a key for us tonight. I also thought Adreon Bell played some great minutes for us in spurts," Eighmey said.   

Next, Simental had a team-best 15 points on 6 of 11 shooting with Holt having all 11 of her points in the second half. Elkhorn sophomore post Brooke Carlson also got it going over the final 20 minutes, scoring seven of her 12 points while also grabbing seven boards (three offensive). Finally South Dakota freshman reserve guard Trinity Law had six points and five steals with Missouri junior guard Adreon Bell at four boards, three points, an assist and steal.

USC was led by guards Marileliz Martinez (18 points & four rebounds) and Marie Dilbert (eight rebounds, seven points & six steals).

"Sacred Heart is comparable to some of the non-MIAA D2 teams we've played this year. They had some guards that could really get downhill, they were finishing a lot of stuff at the rim and had a couple of kids that shot it fairly well. But the biggest thing was we were having a hard time keeping them in front without fouling," Eighmey said.

UNK faces Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, a D2 independent school, Friday at 4:30 p.m. Central.
 
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